Year in Review 2017

Take a look back at the top stories of 2017. Below you’ll find the audio that recaps the stories from 680 NEWS reporters, links to the stories, and the videos from CityNews from the day the stories broke.

Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie dies

Gord Downie died of glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer on October 17.

Former Blue Jays star pitcher Roy Halladay dies in plane crash

Former star pitcher Roy Halladay died November 7 at the age of 40 when his private plane crashed in the Gulf of Mexico.

Giant rubber duck wades into Toronto after causing a flap

A giant rubber duck that caused a flap for weeks before its arrival settled into its temporary new home on Toronto’s waterfront, causing a stir and a sensation, all at the same time.

Farewell from the White House: Obama signs off

Barack Obama stepped behind the White House podium for the last time on January 18, fielding questions from the crush of journalists crammed in for the occasion. But at times, his answers seemed aimed at an audience of one: the man who would replace him.

Trump inaugurated as President of the United States

Donald Trump, a real estate mogul and reality television star who upended American politics and energized voters angry with Washington, was sworn in January 20 as the 45th president of the United States, putting Republicans in control of the White House for the first time in eight years.

4 Canadians among those killed in Las Vegas shooting

A gunman opened fire on thousands of concertgoers from his nearby hotel window in Las Vegas on October 1. Nearly 60 people were killed, including four Canadians, and hundreds were injured.

Caregiver charged after child found in car in Etobicoke dies

A 50-year-old caregiver was charged after allegedly leaving a three-year-old boy alone in a hot car for several hours in Etobicoke on September 21. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition and later died.

The solar eclipse is coming, please don’t look directly at it

August 21 was a spectacular day, when an astronomical crowd gathered to watch a partial solar eclipse in Toronto.

Jagmeet Singh becomes leader of the federal NDP

Jagmeet Singh became the the first person of a visible minority to lead a federal political party, taking the reigns of the NDP on October 1.

Trudeau apologizes for decades of LGBTQ discrimination by federal agencies

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an historic apology to Canada’s LGBTQ2 community on November 28, saying the government’s so-called “gay purge” was cruel and unjust. Read the full text of the apology here.

6-alarm fire guts historic racquet club at Yonge and St. Clair

A massive fire gutted the historic Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto at St. Clair Avenue East and Yonge Street on February 14. The six-alarm, $10-million fire wasn’t suspicious. The cause wasn’t conclusively determined, but the fire started in a third-floor mechanical room, possibly the result of an electrical fault.

Long-time Toronto city councillor Pam McConnell dies

Long-time Toronto city councillor Pam McConnell died on July 7. She was the deputy mayor in charge of poverty reduction.

Police find nobody with a gun after scare on King West

A gun call on King Street West triggered a very tense situation in the entertainment district on October 26.

Liberals introduce legislation to legalize marijuana

The Trudeau government introduced its legislation to legalize marijuana on April 13. The bill sets the minimum legal age at 18, proposed a personal possession limit of 30 grams and brought in strict new regulations and laws. Here are five things to know about the plan and a look at the legislation’s highlights.

Charles Manson, whose cult slayings horrified world, dies

Infamous serial killer and cult leader Charles Manson died on November 19. He died from natural but unspecified causes after nearly a half century behind bars.

O.J. Simpson granted parole

O.J. Simpson was granted parole after serving nine years for a botched hotel room heist in Las Vegas. He was released from prison on October 1.

Wettlaufer sentenced to life with no parole for 25 years

Former nurse Elizabeth Wettlaufer was sentenced on June 26 for the murders of eight seniors in her care.

Andrew Scheer elected leader of Conservative party

Andrew Scheer, a longtime Saskatchewan MP and former speaker of the House of Commons, was narrowly elected as the new leader of the federal Conservative Party on May 27. Here are five things you need to know about him.

Thousands flock to Ottawa for Canada 150 celebrations

Canada celebrated its 150th birthday with a huge bash on Parliament Hill on July 1. Hundreds of thousands of people decked out in red and white showed their true patriot love at the noon show, which featured performers like Bono and The Edge from U2.

Chanting fans pack downtown Toronto to celebrate TFC’s MLS Cup championship

Thousands of fans packed the streets to celebrate Toronto FC’s first ever MLS championship on December 11.

Air Canada plane was within 30 metres of hitting 2 planes in San Francisco

An Air Canada plane came within meters of a catastrophic event on a runway at San Fransisco International Airport on July 13, coming close to the worst aviation disaster ever.

Texas church attack leaves 26 dead

A gunman opened fired inside a small South Texas church, killing 26 people. The attack claimed people ranging in age from 5 to 72. The shooter died from after shooting himself.

Hurricane Harvey ravages in Texas

Hurricane Harvey made its first of three landfalls on August 25, ravaging Texas and causing widespread flooding.

Harvey Weinstein scandal breaks, #MeToo movement spreads

The New York Times broke the Harvey Weinstein scandal on October 5, which sparked the #MeToo movement. Sexual harassment and assault allegations against the now disgraced Hollywood power player date back to the ’90s. The scandal spread, with sexual assault allegations affecting big names like Kevin Spacey, Matt Lauer, and Louis CK.

Toronto sees unprecedented flooding after heavy rain

High water levels in Lake Ontario and heavy rain lead to unprecedented flooding.

York-Spadina subway extension opens

The TTC’s Line 1 grew by six stops on December 17 when the York-Spadina subway extension officially opened to the public.

Crane girl makes international headlines

Marisa Lazo, 23, climbed up a construction crane by Church and Wellesley streets and sat suspended 20 stories above ground, unable to get down in a four-hour ordeal on April 26.

3 killed in fiery crash on Hwy. 400

A fully-loaded fuel tanker truck plowed into a line of slow traffic and burst into flames on Highway 400 south of Barrie on October 31.

Malala receives honourary Canadian citizenship

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, 19, received her honourary Canadian citizenship on April 12. Yousafzai was nearly killed by the Taliban in 2012 for promoting education.

King Street streetcar pilot project begins

The King Street pilot project began Sunday November 12, basically kicking cars off the street between Jarvis and Bathurst.

Trump at UN: slams ‘Rocket Man’ Kim, threatens to ‘totally destroy’ North Korea

Trump and Kim Jong-Un’s escalating war of words made headlines this year, and peaked in September when Trump tweeted and talked his adversary in brash and undiplomatic terms, saying “Rocket man should have been handled a long time ago.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make first public appearance

Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle made their first ever public appearance as a couple, and it happened right here in Toronto on September 25.

Car stolen with child inside

A car left warming in a driveway near Jane Street and Lawrence Avenue was stolen with a four-year-old girl in the backseat was stolen on March 10. After an Amber Alert and an extensive search, the child was found in the vehicle only about 2.5 kilometres away.

Sears Canada closing all stores

Sears Canada received court approval to liquidate all of its stores, signalling the end of an era for a 65-year-old chain. The move put 12,000 employees out of a job.

Andy Byford leaving TTC for NYC

After more than five years, Andy Byford announced on November 21 that he’s stepping down as CEO of the TTC. Byford will be taking over as president and CEO of the MTA New York City Transit in January 2018.

Trump administration spread ‘lies, plain and simple’: Comey

Former FBI director James Comey accused the Trump administration on June 8 of spreading “lies, plain and simple” about him and the FBI in the aftermath of his abrupt firing, in dramatic testimony that threatened to undermine Donald Trump’s presidency.